Loom picker

ABSTRACT

A loom picker which has a body of resilient elastomeric material and a shuttle-contacting insert of a wear-resistant material which is harder than the body. The insert has a threaded configuration and is mounted in a cavity which also has a threaded configuration, the cavity extending partially through the body but terminating short of the picket stick.

United States Patent Tell et al.

[54] LOOM PICKER [72] Inventors: Mayo B. Tell, 6 Blackwood Road, Asheville, Ohio 28804; Donald D. Kidd, 106 Balsam Drive; William T. Wickharn, 903 Brunswick Drive, both of Waynesville, NC. 28786; Frank Brown, 5556 Viewpoint Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45459 [22] Filed: Nov. 13, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 89,331

52] 05.01 ..139/159 511 Im. Cl. ..D03d49/36 5s FieldofSearch ..l39/l59-l60 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,020,932 2/1962 Rivera "139/159 51 May 23, 1972 3,229,726 1/1966 Murray 139/159 3,507,304 4/1970 Haag l 39/ l 59 3,302,667 2/l967 Urguhart et al l 39/l59 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 253,264 6/1926 GreatBritain ..l39/l60 474,593 8/1969 Switzerland ..l39/l59 Primary Examinerlames Kee Chi AttorneyReuben Wolk [57] ABSTRACT A loom picker which has a body of resilient elastomeric material and a shuttle-contacting insert of a wear-resistant material which is harder than the body. The insert has a threaded configuration and is mounted in a cavity which also has a threaded configuration, the cavity extending partially through the body but terminating short of the picket stick.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LOOM PICKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention refers to loom pickers which are used for driving shuttles across the loom during the weaving operation. In the art of weaving the weft threads are laid transversely of the warp threads by the use of a shuttle which is struck by the picker to drive it back and forth. The high speed of modern looms creates a high impact on the picker which causes rapid wear, thus necessitating frequency replacement of the picker.

Rather than replace the entire picker it is highly desirable to replace the actual portion of the picker which contacts the shuttle. By providing a simple method of installing and removing an insert which contacts the shuttle, a picker of increased life and lower cost will result. In order to create the proper resilience throughout the body and the high wear of the insert it is feasible to utilize a picker with a body formed of resilient elastomeric material and an insert which is formed of a somewhat harder material that is highly wear resistant. Such an arrangement has been suggested, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,229,726 and 3,507,334. In addition to improving the wear problem, a picker of this type also minimizes the noise which is created by the impact between the shuttle and the picker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, a novel picker has been developed which combines a resilient body, such as urethane, and a removable wear-resistant shuttle-contacting insert, harder than the body, preferably made of high molecular weight polyethylene. Simplified installation and removal of the insert is accomplished by providing a threaded configuration on the insert and a threaded configuration in the cavity in the face of the body, so that the insert may be easily installed in and removed from the body. When the insert, therefore, has become worn because of the repeated impacts, it is a simple matter to remove this insert and install a new one. The novel concept resides in the relationship of the threaded insert and the threaded cavity of the body since this permits a high degree of energy absorption. By transmitting the shock of the shuttle through the insert and through the surface of the threads of the insert into the threads of the body, a much larger area of energy absorption exists than is found by the arrangements of the prior art.

Rather than having the threads of the insert match the threads of the cavity exactly, the threads may be designed with slightly dissimilar configurations. The slight mismatching will not prevent insertion of the insert in the cavity, but will help to lock the insert in place.

While the use of a threaded insert has been suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 3,302,667, the picker body is described as being of a very hard material and the insert of a softer material, so that an entirely different relationship exists than in the present application. This patent also suggests using the insert as a means for clamping the picker to a stick; whereas in the present invention it is specifically indicated that the cavity and the corresponding insert terminate short of the picker stick.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel picker mounted on the picker stick.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the picker taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of picker with the inert shown as disassembled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical arrangement of a picker 1 I mounted on a picker stick 12 which passes through an opening 14 extending through the upper and lower surfaces of the picker. The body of the picker is designated by reference nu meral 13 and has a shuttle-contacting insert 15 which is located within a cavity. A conical recess 16 in the face of the insert contacts the shuttle during motion and helps to seat the shuttle within the insert. A slit 17 extends partially across the shuttle-contacting face of the insert for purposes to be described below.

The body of the picker is made of an elastomeric material which is resilient in order to provide long life and shock absorption. A preferred material is urethane which may be cast or injection molded. A cavity 19, which has a threaded configuration, extends from the outer face of the body to a wall 21 which is short of the picker stick opening 14, this wall defining the inner end of the cavity. The insert 15 is a cylindrical member also having a threaded configuration 18 approximately matching the configuration of the cavity. This insert is made of a highly wear-resistant material, preferably high molecular weight polyethylene, which is harder than the material of the body and which thus withstands the impact of the picker for long periods of time. The shuttle-contacting face of the insert is flush with the shuttle-contacting face of the body, while the inner face 20 of the insert contacts the cavity wall 21. The full contact of the insert in the cavity through the threaded portions and through the walls provides for maximum energy absorption so that the shuttle impact is passed through the insert and into the body.

The insert is easily installed into the cavity, and to simplify the installation the slit 17 may be utilized in the same manner, as the slit in the head of a screw. When the insert has become badly damaged, such as by having the conical hole 17 enlarged, the insert may be removed by the same expedient and a new one installed. The eliminates the need for replacing the entire picker.

If desired, the configuration of the threads on the insert and I in the cavity may be slightly dissimilar, so that the mismatch helps lock the insert in place. The dissimilarity may be in the pitch or in the angle of the threads, and may be created by several methods. For example, if both the body and insert are completely molded the same theoretical mold dimensions may be utilized; but because shrinkage is different for each of the materials used, the desired mismatch is created. It is also possible to form the threads on the insert by a screw machine or similar mechanism, and thereby select the desired pitchor angle to create the desired variation from the pitch or angle of the cavity threads.

Whichever arrangement is used, the variation is so slight that installation and removal of the insert from the cavity is not difficult, yet the locking effect is enhanced.

MODIFIED FORM OF THE INVENTION FIG. 3 illustrates another form of the invention utilizing the identical body 13 having a picker stick opening 14, an internally threaded cavity 19, and a wall 21 which terminates the cavity short of the picker stick opening. In this form of the invention the insert 25 consists of a cylindrical threaded member 28 similar to the threaded member 18 of the principal form of the invention, and has an inner face 29 which is adapted to be placed against the wall 21. However, the insert has an additional boss 26 extending beyond the outer face of the body and has the same conical opening as the insert 15. A

slit 27 in the shuttle-contacting face of the insert is utilized to assist in the installation and removal of the insert. The additional mass of this boss 26 provides extra energy absorption during the operation. The boss may also have a conical recess similar to the recess 16, in order to improve contact with the shuttle.

It should be understood that the specific embodiments are merely exemplary and other modifications may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A loom picker comprising a body of resilient elastomeric material and having a picker stick opening passing through the upper and lower surfaces thereof, a cavity having a threaded configuration and extending from an outer face to a wall short of said opening, and a wear-resistant insert made of harder material than said body and having a shuttle-contacting faceand an inner face, said insert also having a threaded configuration which is slightly dissimilar from the threaded configuration of said cavity and being mounted in said cavity.

2. The picker of claim 1 in which the shuttle-contacting face of said insert is flush with the outer face of said body. I

3. The picker of claim 1 in which the shuttle-contacting face of said insert extends beyond the outer face of said body.

3 UNlTED sures mm when QEEFEQATE GE QQECNQN Patent No. ,0 ,382 Dated May 23, 1.972

Inventor) Mayo B. Tull, Donald D. Kidd, William '1. Wickham, Frank Brown above-identified patent It is certified that error appears in the d as shown below:

and that said Letters Patent are hereby correcte On the title page, line 3 change "Ohio" to North Carolina On the title page between "[72]" and "[22]" insert the following:

" [7-3] Assignee: Dayco Corporation, Dayton, Ohio Signed and sealed this 27th day of November 1973.

(SEAL) At'test' RENE D. TEGTMEYER Acting Commissioner of Patents EDWARD V.PLETCI'IER,JR. Attesting Officer 

1. A loom picker comprising a body of resilient elastomeric material and having a picker stick opening passing through the upper and lower surfaces thereof, a cavity having a threaded configuration and extending from an outer face to a wall short of said opening, and a wear-resistant insert made of harder material than said body and having a shuttle-contacting face and an inner face, said insert also having a threaded configuration which is slightly dissimilar from the threaded configuration of said cavity and being mounted in said cavity.
 2. The picker of claim 1 in which the shuttle-contacting face of said insert is flush with the outer face of said body.
 3. The picker of claim 1 in which the shuttle-contacting face of said insert extends beyond the outer face of said body.
 4. The picker of claim 1 in which said body is made of urethane elastomer and said insert is made of high molecular weight polyethylene.
 5. The picker of claim 1 in which the shuttle-contacting face of said insert has a slit extending partially across the face of said insert to assist in the installation and removal of said insert from said cavity. 